Study Programmes 2016-2017
GCIV2176-1  
Experimental modelling in civil engineering
Duration :
10h Th, 30h Pr, 10h Labo., 10h Proj.
Number of credits :
Master in civil engineering (120 ECTS)3
Lecturer :
Frédéric Collin, Sébastien Erpicum
Coordinator :
N...
Language(s) of instruction :
English language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents :
This course is focused on the description and application of experimental modeling methods in civil engineering, with a particular focus on geotechnics and hydraulics.
Experimental modeling uses advanced measurement and scaling techniques which are not taught to students during previous classes. In this lecture, students will have to apply scaling rules and to use measurement devices in order to solve a real problem (group project). Students will thus study the various aspects of the problem from model design, materials characterization and measurement devices set up to model operation to meet predefined objectives.
Practice of techniques and methods learned during theoretical lectures will be favored (characterization methods for soils, dimensional analysis, laws for similitude, scale effects).
A group project leads to the manufacturing and testing of a physical scale model of a dike in the Laboratory of Engineering Hydraulics.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit :
Expertise in experimental modeling applied to civil engineering and in use of experimental devices.
Ability to design, to set up and to carry on experimental tests.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
Advanced lectures in geotechnics and hydraulics engineering.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
Group project learning with regular contact with teachers (weekly meetings)
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
2 face to face lectures and then weekly project meetings.
Recommended or required readings :
Assessment methods and criteria :
Weekly meetings participation: 25%
Written report: 25%
Oral presentations: 50%
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
Course organized on Wednesday afternoon, during weeks 1 to 8 of the first quadrimester.
Model building and testing in the Engineering Hydraulics Laboratory.
Contacts :
Prof. Frederic Collin - f.collin@ulg.ac.be
Dr Sebastien Erpicum - s.erpicum@ulg.ac.be